COSBY PERFORMANCE TO KICK OFF NEW ISU ACADEMIC YEAR AND
CELEBRATION OF CARVER LEGACY

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University students will kick off a new
academic year and a university celebration of George Washington
Carver with a free performance by comedian Bill Cosby.

Cosby will appear at Stephens Auditorium on Sunday, Aug. 30. Cosby
will perform a free comedy show for Iowa State students in the
evening and a show for the general public earlier in the day, for
which tickets will be sold. Ticket information for the afternoon
Cosby performance will be announced in June.

The Cosby event will kick off the 1998-99 academic year and will
be followed by a year-long celebration of the legacy of George
Washington Carver. The celebration, titled "Inspiring Students to
Become Their Best -- The Legacy of George Washington Carver,"
"will shape many university events and outreach activities, and
will include a multicultural exhibit and performance series," said
Murray Blackwelder, vice president for external affairs.

These Carver events and activities include a lecture series, a
Carver display tour of Iowa and a Carver theme for the ISU College
of Agriculture's Iowa State Fair booth.

ISU's College of Agriculture also will be in the spotlight during
the year, as Carver received his bachelor of agriculture degree in
1894 and his master of agriculture degree in 1896 from ISU. Carver
was the first African American to enroll at Iowa State in 1891,
was the first African American to earn a degree from the school
and spent a year as ISU's first African-American faculty member.
He went on to become an acclaimed scientist at Tuskegee
University, creating many uses for peanuts, pecans and sweet
potatoes, and helping Southern farmers be more productive and
profitable.

The ISU administration worked closely with the ISU Government of
the Student Body (GSB) and the Committee on Lectures in bringing
Cosby to campus to do a free show for ISU students. Bryan
Burkhardt, 1998-99 GSB president, will serve on a committee
involved in further developing the Carver celebration.

"I believe this theme serves as a wonderful challenge for
students. It encourages us to strive to be our best as individuals
and as a campus community. The combination of entertainment, art
and academic events planned for next year will provide excellent
opportunities for students and will help celebrate the
contributions George Washington Carver made at Iowa State and
elsewhere," said Burkhardt.

Agriculture Dean David Topel said Carver's legacy adds extra
meaning to current programs that emphasize adding value in Iowa
agriculture.

"George Washington Carver was a creative leader. Through teaching
and research, he contributed to the science and technology of
value-added agriculture and the importance of good stewardship of
natural resources. It's a pleasure to participate in celebrating
his life and accomplishments," Topel said.

Members of the university community interested in serving on the
committee developing the 1998-99 Carver celebration should contact
Blackwelder.